Sharp-freezing container for mechanical refrigerators



July 3,1928. I 1,675,599

L. G. COPEMAN SHARP FREEZING CONTAINER FOR MECHANICAL REFRIGERATORS 1 Filed May 3, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

lqo yd 6: @Paman.

July 3, 1928. 1,675,599

L. G. COPEMAN SHARP FREEZING CONTAINER FOR MECHANICAL REFRIGERATORS Filed May 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A 'I'TO RNE Y.

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Patented July 3,. l9 28t;v

UNITED: "STATES -PATENTTOFEFIC'E.

' LLOYD-G. commas, or rnm'r mcnman.

Application Med May 3,

This invention relates to sharp freezing containers for mechanical refrigerators, and

has to ,do particularly with a novel structure for forming ice cubes and the like, and

the method of separating and releasing the ice cubes when desired.

Practically every domestic refrigerator embodying automatic refrigeration is provided with a low side or cooling unit having sharp freezing chambersfor the reception of one or moretrays, commonly called ice cube trays. Any one who has used these ice trays has experienced the difliculty of removing the ice cubes from the tray, it usually being necessary to either hold the tray up side down under running warm water to release the entire batch of ice cubes and then remove them one by one from the frame, or to direct the hot water at one particular point on the top or bottom of the tray to only release a few of the ice cubes atone time. This operation is not only tediousand messy but results in a material meltingaway of the ice cubes obtained and also results in material melting ofthe other ice cubes left. inthe tray and replaced in the refrigerator. Furthermore, the door of the refrigerator, is frequently left open during this procedure and the length of timer-hitherto required. to separate and obtain one or more ice cubes has resulted in a material warming of the refrigeratorinterior and a consequent reduction in efficiency.

It is the object of the presentinvention to provide sharp freezing trays for the freezing of ice cubes and the like, which are of such composition and such flexibility as to permit distortion thereof and quick removal of one .or more ice cubes without any heating or melting of the tray, the only step required being-the distortion of all or a portion of the tray.

This novel sharp freezing container is preferably obtained by forming the tray or a portion thereof out of a flexible material such as rubber, preferably molded. Each ice cube is therefore formed within flexible or distortable Walls the distortion of which permits easy separation and/or removal of the ice cubes. This will be ,true regardless of whether each ice cube is formed inanin dividual container of flexible material or the complete tray is made up of-flexible ma-- terial. g y.

In thedrawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view, partly cut cups as shown in frame shown in Fig. 2 'mayl was. use No. 274,111.

away, of an ice cube tray embodying my I Fig. 1.

ig. 2" is a fragmentary sectional view of a flexible ice cube tray similar to that shown in Fig. 1, as assembled in a reinforcing frame such as shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentar perspective view of a sharp freezing container for individual ice cube cups. Y

Fig. 4 is a pers ectiveview of one of the Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic view i]lus trat-- ing the manner of separating and removing ice cubes from a container such as shown in Fig. 1'.

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view of an ice cube container similar to that shown in 'Fig. 1, but being provided with a reinforcin plate in the bottom thereof.

The gist of the present invention relates to the forming of a sharp freezing container, such as ice. cube trays, out of a flexible material, and while I have shown a preferred form and several modifications, it will be .obvious that these may be varied to a con- In Fig. 1 I have shown an integral ice cube tray 1. This tray is pre rably formed of molded rubber of a consistency which will withstand the freezing action of the ice cubes. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 1, while the tray is formed integrally and is thus flexible it is also so formed as to be inherently remwhich may be generally designated forced inorder to stand up when filled with water and inserted in the cooling unit of the refrigerating system. Suitable part1- tions 2 are formed integrally with the sides of the container'and are of course likewise formed of rubber. vary considerabl as to thickness and height.

In Fig. 2 I ave shown what ma be termed an addition to the structure s own in Fig. 1, or a modification thereof. The be genera-11v designated 3 and is prefera y perforated, as shown, whereby to provide just enough stiffness to hold the rubber tray in place. It will be obvious that if such a frame, as shown in Fig. 1, is utilized the rubber container tray may be much thinner and even Such partitions may cab of much greater resiliency. Such a framecubes therefrom-It will be understood that and tray is shown as at 4 in Fig. 2.

When such a frame as 3 is utilized as a reinforcing medium, it will be obvious that the rubber tray can either be completely removed or the frame itself may be of such flexible material as to be distortable with the rubber container. The openings in the,

bottom of the frame may'also be readily utilized in flexing the rubber container to separate and discharge the ice cubes.

A further modification of the present 1nvention is shown in Rig. 3 wherein a standard tray 5 may be utilized to receive a plurality of individual containers 6. These containersfi are preferably formed of molded rubber, and each is preferably provided with a suitable tab 7' to permit ready removal thereof from the tray. It will be but I have found that the entire container 40 may be turned inside out to quickly and positively discharge the icecubes.

Very frequently it is desirable to obtain only one or two ice cubes at a time and by utilizing such single containers it is possible to very Quickly remove the single container from its tray or frame and discharge the ice cubes therefrom. Such ice cubes will be in their whole, normal and comparatively dry condition.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a further modification of my structure wherein the upper walls 8 are formed of molded rubber and the bottom wall reinforced by a suitable plate 9 which is preferably perforated. This bottom plate 9 will give the entire tray necessary rigidity so that it can be moved in and out of thecooling unit and the upstanding walls 8 will be of suitable rigidity to hold the water but still being flexible enough to permit easy discharge of the ice In Fig. 5 I have illustrated one manner 'of carrving out the novel method involved in the structure as shown in Fig. 1 or even in Fig. 2. In the diagrammatic view illus flexed so as to distort the walls thereof and free the ice cubes.

- It will thus be seen that I have provided a novel sharp freezing container for ice cubes and the'like, which is formed of a material having relatively small affinity for the ice and not readily wettable by water but also being flexible in varying degrees so as to permit easy discharge of the ice rubber without the inner connecting parti-' tions so that a single large hunk of ice or other frozen substance may be quickly removed thercfrom by merely distorting or flexing the material of the container.

\Vhat I claim is:

.1. As a new article of manufacture, a sharp freezing container of the type ada ted to be positioned in heat conducting re ation with the low side of a mechanical refrigerating system and formed of material 'not readily wettable by water, art of the container being of non-metallic exible material to permit easy removal of the frozen article or articles.

2. As' a new article of manufacture, a sharp freezing container of the type adapted to be positioned in heat conducting relation with the low side of a mechanical refrigerating system, and formed at least in part of rubber to permit easy removal of the frozen article or articles.

3. A. container of the type adapted to be inserted in heat conducting relation with the cooling unit of a mechanical refrigerati ng system for freezing water or the like, comprising a series: of compartments of a material not readily gwettable by water some of which are formed of a permanent readily distortable material to permit easy removal of the frozen article or articles.

4. A sharp freezing, container for use in connection with mechanical refrigerating units, comprising a main container member and a plurality of individual containers independently positioned therein, said individual containers being made of elastic material to permit easy removal of the frozen article or articles therefrom.

5. A sharp freezing container for use in connection with mechanical refrigerating units, comprising a main container and a plurality of individual containers ositioned within said main'container and ormed of a permanent composition to which ice does not readily adhere whereby to permit easy removal of the frozen article or articles.

6. A container for use with mechanical refrigerating units and adapted to receive water or the like to be frozen, comprising com artments formed at least in art of a flexi 1e and elastic material, a reinforcing means for maintaining the container in operative shape without destro ing the flexibility of some of the walls thereof.

7 A shar freezing container of the type adaptedto e' ositioned in heat conductin relation with t e cooling unit of a mechanical refrigerating system, comprising walls for defining the shape and size of the article or articles to be frozen, said walls being formed at least in part of an elastic material to which ice does notreadily adhere.

8. As a new article of manufacture, a sharp freezing container of the type adapted to be positioned in heat conducting relation with the low side of a mechanical refrigerating s stem, said container having partitions for dividing the container into a plurality of ice cube forming chambers, said partitions being formed at least in part of a permanent non-metallic material not readily wettable by water whereby to permit easy removal of the frozen article or articles.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a sharp freezing container of the type adapted to be positioned in heat conducting relation with the lowside of a mechanical refrigerating system, said container having partitions formed inte rally with the side walls of the container or dividing the container into ice cube-forming chambers,'the surfaces of said partitions and the s de walls of said container being formed of a permanent material to which ice does not readily adhere.

10. As a new article of manufacture, a sharp freezing container of the type adapted to be ositioned in heat conducting relation with t e lowside of a mechanical refrigerating system, said container having partitions for dividing the container into a plurality of ice cube-forming chambers, the surfaces of said partitions being formed of a ermanent non-metallic material to which me does not readily adhere whereby to per- LLOYD G. OOPEMAN. 

